The Cambridge Dictionary added thousands of new words, including those frequently used by those in Generation Alpha, including “skibidi,” “tradwife,” and “delulu.”
“The 6,212 new words, phrases and meanings, alongside a regular programme of revisions and an expanding range of bilingual dictionaries, make the Cambridge Dictionary one of the fastest-growing dictionaries in the world,” a news release for the dictionary’s update explained.
According to the online dictionary, the added terms “have grown in use across social and mainstream media and beyond, linked to celebrities and influencers” such as Kim Kardashian, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and others.
One of the more popular words, “skibidi,” is considered a nonsense term and was created by a viral animated series on YouTube. Other terms added to the dictionary include “inspo,” short for inspiration; “work wife” and “work spouse,” which describe workplace relationships; and “delulu,” a play on the word “delusional.”
Another term added to the dictionary is “tradwife,” short for a “traditional wife,” and reflects the growing trend toward traditional values.
The term “forever chemical” was also added to the dictionary, signaling a push for environmental health, as many have moved to avoid products containing materials posing risks.
“It’s not every day you get to see words like skibidi and delulu make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power,” said Cambridge Dictionary Lexical Programme Manager Colin McIntosh. “Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary.”
